(LEAD) S. Korea to seek 2-year delay in tax on cryptocurrency gains

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(ATTN: ADDS details throughout, photo) By Kang Yoon-seung

SEOUL, Nov. 5 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will seek to delay a planned tax on cryptocurrency gains by two years, from 2027 to 2029, considering the timeline for tax information exchanges with the United States and the need to prepare for changes in the regulatory framework, the finance minister said Thursday.

Finance Minister Lee Hyoung-il made the remark during a press conference in Seoul, noting the government will work with the National Assembly on the proposed delay.

"It is with a heavy heart that I announce another proposed delay in taxation, after its implementation has already been postponed three times," Lee said. "The government will use the two-year period to ensure that taxation of virtual assets can be implemented smoothly in 2029," he added.

The government explained that as the country is set to begin exchanging information on virtual assets with Washington in 2029, introducing the tax before then could put the domestic cryptocurrency market at a disadvantage.

"The proposed delay aims to uphold the basic principle that income should be taxed while improving the effectiveness of taxation on domestic and overseas transactions, ensuring greater fairness among taxpayers, and establishing a reliable and stable framework for taxation," the Ministry of Finance and Economy said.

Finance Minister Lee Hyoung-il speaks during a press conference in Seoul on Nov. 5, 2026, in this photo released by the Ministry of Finance and Economy. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

Seoul first moved to tax gains on virtual assets in 2020 for implementation in January 2022. If finalized, the proposed delay would be the fourth.

Under the scheme, a 22 percent tax, including local income tax, would apply to the portion of annual cryptocurrency gains exceeding 2.5 million won (US$1,869).

The government plans to form a public-private working group to refine the tax system, develop detailed taxation rules for various transactions and make filing easier for taxpayers.

"The working group will hold its first meeting soon and continue discussions through the first half of next year," the finance ministry said, adding it plans to submit legislative amendments to the National Assembly during its regular session in 2027.

The ministry said it will continue to monitor developments in international information-sharing arrangements for taxation on overseas transactions.

Given the volatility of cryptocurrency prices, the government will also seek to allow investors to carry forward losses for up to three years to offset future gains, following similar practices in the U.S. and Britain.

The government will also work with the Financial Services Commission to speed up the enactment of a digital asset law aimed at promoting sound growth in the market and protecting users, it added.

"We will work closely with the National Assembly on the necessary legislation and overhaul our tax rules and enforcement systems to ensure the tax is applied fairly," the finance ministry said.

This file photo, taken Oct. 28, 2026, shows a lounge at the office of cryptocurrency exchange Bithumb in southern Seoul. (Yonhap)

colin@yna.co.kr (END)

(LEAD) S. Korea to seek 2-year delay in tax on cryptocurrency gains

这将使谷歌能够向您展示与您的搜索匹配或相关的韩联社新闻文章。

（注：全文新增细节及照片）作者：康允胜

首尔，11月5日（韩联社）——韩国财政部长周四表示，考虑到与美国进行税务信息交换的时间表以及为监管框架的变化做好准备的需要，韩国将寻求把原定于2027年征收的加密货币收益税推迟两年，从2027年推迟到2029年。

韩国财政部长李亨日在首尔举行的新闻发布会上发表了上述言论，并指出政府将与国会合作，商讨推迟实施的方案。

李显龙总理表示：“我怀着沉重的心情宣布，在虚拟资产征税政策已经三次推迟实施之后，政府将再次提议推迟该政策。” 他补充道：“政府将利用这两年时间，确保虚拟资产征税政策能够在2029年顺利实施。”

政府解释说，由于该国计划于 2029 年开始与华盛顿交换虚拟资产信息，在此之前引入该税可能会使国内加密货币市场处于不利地位。

财政经济部表示：“此次延期旨在坚持对收入征税的基本原则，同时提高国内外交易的征税效率，确保纳税人之间的公平性，并建立可靠稳定的税收框架。”

这张由韩国财政经济部发布的照片​​显示，韩国财政部长李亨日于2026年11月5日在首尔举行的新闻发布会上发表讲话。（照片非卖品）（韩联社）

首尔于 2020 年首次提出对虚拟资产收益征税，原计划于 2022 年 1 月实施。如果最终确定，此次提议的延期将是第四次。

根据该方案，每年加密货币收益超过 250 万韩元（1869 美元）的部分，将适用 22% 的税款，其中包括地方所得税。

政府计划成立一个公私合作工作组，以完善税收制度，制定各种交易的详细税收规则，并简化纳税人的申报流程。

财政部表示，“工作组将很快举行第一次会议，并将在明年上半年继续进行讨论”，并补充说，计划在2027年国民议会例会期间向国民议会提交立法修正案。

该部表示将继续关注海外交易税收方面的国际信息共享安排的发展情况。

鉴于加密货币价格的波动性，政府还将效仿美国和英国的类似做法，寻求允许投资者将损失结转至多三年以抵消未来的收益。

政府还表示，将与金融服务委员会合作，加快制定旨在促进市场健康发展和保护用户的数字资产法。

财政部表示：“我们将与国民议会密切合作，制定必要的法律，并改革我们的税收规则和执法体系，以确保税收得到公平执行。”

这张摄于2026年10月28日的资料照片显示的是位于首尔南部加密货币交易所Bithumb办公室的休息室。（韩联社）

colin@yna.co.kr (完)

（导语）韩国拟寻求对加密货币收益征税延期两年